Tag: Songs Produced by Ric Albano

Crimson, White, & Indigo

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 4:13
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:CrimsonWhiteIndigo.mp3]
Lyrics
Need I be a hero man to admire what true heroes have done?
With deepest valor they put it on the line in their fight for freedom

They’re bred in ordinary towns, yet take their posts along the fringes
Of the wilderness so that the city may thrive in peace

An extraordinary leap of faith that something better is yet to come
All things equal, I think that I would rather be glazed upon with colors…

Colors that encapsulate the future (Colors that captivate)
Let the person determine it himself
The colors that evoke both hope and envy (Colors initiate)
From that person left on the world’s shelf

Across the sea are sown the seeds of a brave new world
Where history turns to stroll along a blazed new path
And the window opens, lets a fresh breeze blow
That loosens up the knots, that animates the cloth
Donned crimson, white, and indigo

Need I be a righteous man to appreciate what the founders had done
Self preservation bowed to principle when it came to freedom

From palaces of enlightenment, the doctrines of self determined
Citizens, colonists no more, for sure they were never going back…

Back to the stale feudal system (Back to the feudal lord)
Overlords dictating terms of self
Nor back to colonial old world missions (Back to the whipping board)
Native peoples subjects of someone else

East of east, you’ll find the western fringe of western thought
A magic link that binds the world together as one
One of innovation, democratization, prosperous and fulfilling long lives

Crimson, white, and indigo
That’s where I’ll go, that’s what I’ll show, what my wind will blow

Composition © 2006 Ric Albano
Publication © 2006, 2009, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

Song Info
Composed on February 3, 2006
Recorded starting on October 5, 2007
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Mixed and Mastered in 2009
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Original Release: September 9, 2009
on Imaginary Lines 33

Performers
Ric Albano
Keyboards, Bass, Lead & Backing Vocals
Janet Rains
Lead & Backing Vocals
Ron Simasek
Drums and Percussion
“The Freedom Singers”
Backing Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: The riff is simple and catchy. The verses are a bit rough vocally but give way to a much more melodic feel due to the vocals of Janet Rains. There is some awkwardness towards the ending, as well as muffed lyrics.

Song Trivia
The song is obviously written about the U.S.A. The title comes from Grateful Dead song called “Standing On the Moon” with the lyric – “old glory standing stiffly, Crimson, White, & Indigo”. THe Grateful Dead later (after the release of Imaginary Lines 33 released a live compilation with this same title.
“Crimson, White, & Indigo” was to be the first song on the now-defunct Imaginary Lines III.

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Song for Diane (Don’t Give Up)

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 3:28
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:SongForDiane.mp3] Currently Not Available for Purchase
Lyrics
Some tried to write your swan song, so quickly to surcease
So hastily forsaken, so suddenly released
Don’t give up, there are more songs left to sing

Some “experts” started chanting, stoic “realities”
Dug deep down for the valiance, those words they had to eat
You don’t give up, when at stake is everything

Everywhere see the future And ever-remembered pasts
And never forsake every step that you’ll take
To every lot that you shall cast
And everyday make it happen, and everyday chase the dream
And everyday shout at every neigh and every doubt
When the train appears to run out of steam

This morning you discovered a perplexing travesty
Woodpecker is in your garden and with the Snake infests the tree
But don’t give up, this movie has got some more scenes

And everyone knows the future while everyone pans the past
And everyone cries for everyone who dies
They sure thought life would last
And everything is a challenge, and everything takes so long
And everything shouts “there is no easy way out”
What won’t kill us sure makes us strong

Tomorrow is a new day, another chance to be
Another move towards freedom and opportunity
The new girl, she’s waiting in the wings
She won’t give up while there’s still more songs to sing

Composition © 2008 Ric Albano
Publication © 2008, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

 Song Info
Composed on May 13, 2008
Recorded May 2008
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Produced & Engineered by Ric Albano
Previously Unreleased

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Keyboards, Vocals

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: Recorded for a special Dollars for Diane benefit show.

An updated version was recorded in 2009 by P.J. Heckman and released on the Dollars for Diane Compilation CD.

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Long Way Home (Original)

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Written by Ric Albano Song Length: 6:14
Listen to the Song: Purchase the MP3:
[audio:LongWayHome_ILII.mp3] Currently Not Available for Purchase
Lyrics
Lost in the wilderness, the forest through the trees
All merge to emptiness as I am brought down to my knees
I pause for just a sec’ to let the world spin round
To reveal some open trek leading to tame, tended ground

But I’m still alive, yes, I’m still alive
Shrouded in bitterness, I’ll crawl out of this wilderness and try

Counter, diverging paths, I’m forced to make a choice
Contend this demon’s wrath or let it silence my voice
No doubt I’ve done my slice to bring this on myself
But that pittance won’t justify this rapid draining of health

But I’m still alive, but will I survive?
Biased towards happiness, I’ll carve my creed in righteousness

And pray exoneration for squandering the precious dawn of the Day
That priceless jewel, confined by it’s peripheral fuel
Anyday can come the call to raze the walls, and suddenly be shown…

…All that is beyond, knowing all that is gone
Blown, pried from it’s bond, on the way home…

Who leaves familiar farms, swan dives into the sea
Of vast transcendent charms, of vast uncertainty?

He who keeps it alive, the dream that survives
Drafted towards openness, can almost feel the sweet caress of the sky

That boundless cool, clad baby blue
Never seeming too hard to fly
With wounded wings, ever sharpening
Will tomorrow bring just one more try?
To feel the pulse, to forge the ghosts
To make the most and show…

…Just what can be, and know what it is like to be free
And grow into the predestined me, and flow in distinguished harmony
All the way home…

Composition © 2007 Ric Albano
Publication © 2007, 2011 Cygnus Wave Music

 Song Info
Composed on December 3, 2007
Recorded starting on October 5, 2007
at Saturation Acres, Danville, PA
Produced by Ric Albano
Engineered by Bret Alexander
Mixed and Mastered in 2007
at Cygnus Wave Studios
Released: December 27, 2007
on Imaginary Lines II

Performers
Ric Albano
Piano, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Ron Simasek
Drums and Percussion

Listener Guide
Grade

Analysis: This is the original version of this highly spirtual, nearly religious, song about trials, tribulations, and faith. It was written to close Imaginary Lines II once it was decided that there would be no Imaginary Lines III. It is a tribute to a friend of Ric Albano who passed away earlier in 2007, but faced her own demise with incredible courage and faith.

Song Trivia
The original, working title was “Trinity”, and it was intended to be the closing song on the defunct Imaginary Lines III.
This is only Imaginary Lines song that began studio recording before the composition was complete.

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Imaginary Lines II

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Imaginary Lines IIOriginal Release: December 27, 2007

The Fool’s Overture
She Said
Keep Doing What You Do
The Last Man to Walk Alone
You Sure Were Fun
33 Shots of Louis
Believe
A New Religion
The Cup
Naked
Here On the Beach
Long Way Home

Enhanced versions of songs later included on Imaginary Lines 33

Imaginary Lines I

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Imaginary Lines IOriginal Release: October 10, 2005

“Side One”
The Phoenix
Good Friday
Perfect Light
Lorelei

“Side Two”
33 Flames for Mary
Anthem
Donovan’s Dread
Peace
One

All songs later included on Imaginary Lines 33